In the quiet villages of Uttarakhand, where mountains often limit mobility and opportunities, a silent transformation has been unfolding. For decades, the Rural Development Institute (RDI) has worked to ensure that Divyangjan are seen not through the lens of disability, but through the strength of their abilities. What began as a mission of rehabilitation has … Saksham: Bridging Rural Talent with Mainstream Employment
On 11 November 2025, what began as a routine field visit unfolded into a vivid reminder of why water and sanitation work in Himalayan villages matters to health, dignity, and livelihoods. Traveling with RDI team– Mr. Naresh Thapliyal and Mr. Gaurav, the ascent toward Chamba revealed pine lined bends and sudden openings to snow clad … Carrying Water, Carrying Hope: A Journey to the Water & Sanitation Project in Mountains of Chamba, Tehri Garhwal
Since its inception, the Rural Development Institute (RDI), Himalayan Institute Hospital Trust, has believed that education is the strongest foundation for change. For children from marginalized communities—many of whom are orphans, belong to single-parent households, or come from families struggling to make ends meet—continuing education often remains a distant dream. RDI’s Scholarship Program was born … Scholarship Program – Nurturing Dreams, Building Futures
Swami Rama Himalayan University (SRHU) has been entrusted with conducting the Environmental and Social Audit of STPs and I&D projects under the Namami Gange Programme in nine locations across Haridwar, Tehri, Dehradun, and Nainital Districts. This initiative, sanctioned by the State Mission for Clean Ganga (SMCG), Government of Uttarakhand, aims to determine the environmental and … Rejuvenating Sacred Ganges: Insights from the Environmental and Social Audit of STPs under the Namami Gange Programme
Anaemia in pregnancy is not just a clinical condition—it’s a silent struggle etched into the everyday lives of countless women across Uttarakhand. Behind the statistics are real stories: of young mothers who faint while working in fields, of women who deliver premature babies, and of families gripped with anxiety due to repeated pregnancy complications. According … Fighting Anaemia with Compassion: A Community-Centered Approach in Rural Uttarakhand
In 2019, the Comprehensive Community Development Program (CCDP) was launched in Jaiharikhal block of Pauri district in Uttarakhand. The primary objective of the program was to increase the income and improve the quality of life of the selected local communities. The main focus of this program has been on individual farmers who have already started … Initiatives for reverse migration through empowering enterprising farmers
It was 2011. We had just successfully conducted years of adolescent girls program through 891 anganwadi centers in three hill districts of Uttarakhand. I had signed up to conduct my first Silence retreat for others at Sadhana Mandir ashram by the Ganges. The opening session was to be at 5pm. That afternoon, received a frantic … Full Circle
Territorially Uttarakhand is often represented in two different zones i.e. Garhwal & Kumaun. But, this hill-dominant state which apparently seems to be small is actually quite vivid and has too much diversity in its cultures, traditions, dialects, etc. Hence, the quench to know more about Uttarakhand especially the 5 tribes, i.e. Bhotiyas, Thaurs, Buxa, Jaunsaries, … Uttarakhand Diaries
Livelihood in mountainous region has always been the challenging issue; mainly due to lack of capacity & knowledge for utilizing locally available resources including land, plants, ecology & environment. Agriculture has also been losing its relevance & utility for past many years among rural communities due to various reasons. These are mainly related with availability … Journey towards livelihood in the mountains
